Acclaimed movie director Sidney Lumet died in New York City on Saturday due to lymphoma complications. He was 86.

Lumet was behind some of Hollywood’s most notable films, including Dog Day Afternoon, Equus, The Wiz and Network. His 50-year film directing career ended with 2007’s Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead. It began in 1957 with actor Henry Fonda.

Fonda was producer and leading man in 12 Angry Men, and went on a limb to hire a young, untried director named Sidney Lumet. The film went on to receive nominations for three Academy Awards (including Best Director) and lives on today as a cinematic classic.

Lumet became well-known for shooting movies in New York, earning praise from fellow directors Woody Allen and Martin Scorsese. He never wanted to retire from filmmaking, and never did. Fourteen of the films he directed were nominated for Academy Awards; Network scored a staggering 10 nods in 1976.

During his sensational career, Lumet worked with the likes of Al Pacino, Richard Burton, Ingrid Bergman, River Phoenix, Sean Connery and Marlon Brando.

He leaves behind two children, two step-children, nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild.